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jeepin's review against another edition
4.0
This was a fun interesting new book! I love the dual tales, the adventure, the lack of love story and the ending. I think the setting on her boat and then in all the places she ventures to are well described and I really felt like I was along for the ride during all her endeavors!
katieheartless's review against another edition
3.0
To be honest, I read this mostly because of the luxurious cover treatment of the always on point Will Staehle. That, and the promise of private detectives and alchemy and circuses and Victorian ladies romping about in manly disguises. And The Bullet-Catcher's Daughter delivers on all those points. Buuuuuut it was missing that je ne sais quoi that would elevate it beyond a delightful box of steampunk bonbons.
aperture_panda's review against another edition
1.0
When I was 16 or 17, I read a book called something like Jack and Joe: Time Gentleman. It was, hands-down, the worst book that I have ever read. It had cringe-worthy dialogue, a terrible story, and, in spite of those, was a Kindle bestseller. This novel is almost as bad as that. I read it because I enjoy Science Fiction and this was a finalist for the Phillip K. Dick award. I have no idea how it got even close to the award.
karcitis's review against another edition
2.0
I did not finish this book. It's not that I hated it, I just didn't feel in the mood for slow moving action, and I guess I've read enough steampunk lately that I need a break from the genre. I didn't even get a quarter of the way through, so maybe it does get more exciting later on, but I just couldn't make it far enough for it to be worthwhile for me right now.
therealbluestocking's review against another edition
4.0
https://www.spdhpod.com/spdhepisodes/2017/10/13/episode-8-born-a-bullet-catchers-daughter
spikegelato's review against another edition
4.0
3.75 out of 5 stars
In this steampunk series-starter, protagonist Elizabeth Barnabus uses the powers of illusion and deception to evade capture while simultaneously solving the mysterious disappearance of a missing aristocrat. While never crossing the threshold from “good” to “great,” The Bullet-Catcher’s Daughter tells a compelling story in a fresh world with a likable heroine. I think I’d like to see how this series plays out...moving on to book 2!
See this review and others at The Speculative Shelf.
In this steampunk series-starter, protagonist Elizabeth Barnabus uses the powers of illusion and deception to evade capture while simultaneously solving the mysterious disappearance of a missing aristocrat. While never crossing the threshold from “good” to “great,” The Bullet-Catcher’s Daughter tells a compelling story in a fresh world with a likable heroine. I think I’d like to see how this series plays out...moving on to book 2!
See this review and others at The Speculative Shelf.
abookishtype's review against another edition
4.0
The word Luddite is now a gentle insult for someone who doesn't like technology. Two hundred years ago, it referred to people who smashed the "infernal machines" of the Industrial Revolution and followed the fictional Ned Ludd. This is the point of divergence in Rod Duncan's Gas-Lit Empire series. In The Bullet-Catcher's Daughter, set about 150 years after the Luddites managed to grind technological advancement to a standstill, the United Kingdom has been split into two countries: the Kingdom of England and South Wales and the Anglo-Scottish Republic. The Kingdom was home to our protagonist, Elizabeth Barnabas, until a corrupt aristocrat bankrupted her father's circus and she was sold into indenture to pay off her father's fabricated debts. She fled north...
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review consideration.
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review consideration.
missuskisses's review against another edition
4.0
A dedicated illusionist—a bullet catcher—lives as she performs. Elizabeth Barnabus, a woman born in a traveling circus to a bullet catcher, has mastered the illusion of being her own twin brother. As her twin brother Edwin has always graced the stage with Elizabeth, few know that Edwin has never existed.
When the Duke of Northampton set his sights on Elizabeth, she ran, and she and “Edwin” have been on the run ever since. As it would be unseemly for a woman to do so, Edwin becomes a private detective to help Elizabeth earn a living.
But cases may be scarce and payments even more scarce. So when the Dutchess of Bletchley hires Edwin to find the Dutchess’s brother and promises to pay a hefty sum of gold, Elizabeth bites. Not everything is as it seems, however, and soon, the agents of the Patent Office are after the Barnabus twins. Elizabeth will have to evade the agents, as well as deal with rogues, freaks and self-proclaimed alchemists, to solve the case.
The Bullet-Catcher’s Daughter had me at “cross-dressing detective” (also that cover art by Will Staehle), and Elizabeth Barnabus does not disappoint. She’s a resourceful heroine, but far from perfect or invincible—she’s no Mary Sue. She describes her background as such:
My main complaint is that, at times, solving the mystery is less a cohesive goal or storyline than an excuse to plop Elizabeth in one setting after another. Thankfully, each setting is unique and fun enough to maintain the momentum, to keep each adventure rollicking. As someone who regularly deals with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, I found the idea of Patent Office agents as a policing force hilarious—in a good way.
Each chapter is headed by a quote from The Bullet Catcher’s Handbook, quotes that range from the practical, to the proverbial, to the poetic:
Good advice from a book with more than a few surprises.
In the glossary, it is revealed that Elizabeth plays a part in bringing down the Gas-Lit Empire. It will be interesting to see how she achieves that in Unseemly Science, the second and last book in the Fall of the Gas-Lit Empire duology, which will be released in February 2015.
When the Duke of Northampton set his sights on Elizabeth, she ran, and she and “Edwin” have been on the run ever since. As it would be unseemly for a woman to do so, Edwin becomes a private detective to help Elizabeth earn a living.
But cases may be scarce and payments even more scarce. So when the Dutchess of Bletchley hires Edwin to find the Dutchess’s brother and promises to pay a hefty sum of gold, Elizabeth bites. Not everything is as it seems, however, and soon, the agents of the Patent Office are after the Barnabus twins. Elizabeth will have to evade the agents, as well as deal with rogues, freaks and self-proclaimed alchemists, to solve the case.
The Bullet-Catcher’s Daughter had me at “cross-dressing detective” (also that cover art by Will Staehle), and Elizabeth Barnabus does not disappoint. She’s a resourceful heroine, but far from perfect or invincible—she’s no Mary Sue. She describes her background as such:
Illusion was my inheritance, fed to me on my mother’s lap as the drowsy rocking of the caravan and the slow rhythm of iron-shod hooves lulled me. It was a ripe strawberry conjured from the air, or a silver coin caressed from my soft cheek by the touch of a loving hand.
My main complaint is that, at times, solving the mystery is less a cohesive goal or storyline than an excuse to plop Elizabeth in one setting after another. Thankfully, each setting is unique and fun enough to maintain the momentum, to keep each adventure rollicking. As someone who regularly deals with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, I found the idea of Patent Office agents as a policing force hilarious—in a good way.
Each chapter is headed by a quote from The Bullet Catcher’s Handbook, quotes that range from the practical, to the proverbial, to the poetic:
As a bullet can be removed through a barrel breach, so can one be added. Therefore, never trust anything or anyone, or even your own self when a gun is pointing at your head.
Good advice from a book with more than a few surprises.
In the glossary, it is revealed that Elizabeth plays a part in bringing down the Gas-Lit Empire. It will be interesting to see how she achieves that in Unseemly Science, the second and last book in the Fall of the Gas-Lit Empire duology, which will be released in February 2015.
estellabelle92's review against another edition
4.0
It's been a while since I last read some steampunk, but how could I resist? The Luddites won, technology is closely controlled or banned, and a woman is leading a double-life as her brother who is an "private intelligence gatherer". There are government agents, circus performers, and life on a barge on the river. Did I mention that it is well into the 20th century, but nothing seems too different from Victorian England except for the dirigibles? Volume one in the "Fall of the Gas-Lit Empire," I will be looking for the next one.
coolcurrybooks's review against another edition
4.0
I’ve had a bit of a hit or miss history with steampunk, but The Bullet-Catcher’s Daughter was certainly a hit. It’s a fast paced start to a series taking place in an alternate timeline where all new technology was outlawed by the all powerful Patent Office. With technology stagnant, societal mores stagnated as well. Thus to live independently, Elizabeth Barnabus has to pull of the greatest illusion of her life – by day she is herself, by night she is a fictional twin brother, who works as a private detective. When she takes a case involving a missing aristocrat, she suddenly finds herself in a world of trouble with the Patent Office on her tail.
If you’ve been following my reviews for a while, you’ll probably have gathered that I like rogue type characters. These tend to be some variant of con artists or thieves, but Elizabeth fits the bill in an unusual but satisfying manner. She grew up in a circus, learning illusions and slight of hand. These are the skills she uses in her information gathering. My favorite parts of the book involved Elizabeth using some form of deception to escape pursuers or gather intel.
Elizabeth lives in what in our world is Scotland. Her version of the Britain has been split in half between the Republic and the Kingdom (Republic in the north, Kingdom in the south). The two have varying cultures, although women don’t have it great in either of them. There’s some of the technology you’d expect from steampunk – say, airships – but there’s not a huge amount of steampowered gadgetry since the Patent Office keeps a tight lid on new inventions. The most impressive feat was that the world building never became info dumpy. You just sort of gently glide into the world and its rules.
While I loved seeing how Elizabeth used her stage magic training to get her way out of sticky situations, I never grew that attached to her as a character. The same can be said for the supporting cast. I don’t think it was to the point where it hampered my enjoyment of the story, but without a strong connection to the characters I doubt I’d ever give this one a reread.
I’d recommend The Bullet-Catcher’s Daughter for anyone looking for a fun, fast paced steampunk story with a very canny female lead.
Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.
If you’ve been following my reviews for a while, you’ll probably have gathered that I like rogue type characters. These tend to be some variant of con artists or thieves, but Elizabeth fits the bill in an unusual but satisfying manner. She grew up in a circus, learning illusions and slight of hand. These are the skills she uses in her information gathering. My favorite parts of the book involved Elizabeth using some form of deception to escape pursuers or gather intel.
Elizabeth lives in what in our world is Scotland. Her version of the Britain has been split in half between the Republic and the Kingdom (Republic in the north, Kingdom in the south). The two have varying cultures, although women don’t have it great in either of them. There’s some of the technology you’d expect from steampunk – say, airships – but there’s not a huge amount of steampowered gadgetry since the Patent Office keeps a tight lid on new inventions. The most impressive feat was that the world building never became info dumpy. You just sort of gently glide into the world and its rules.
While I loved seeing how Elizabeth used her stage magic training to get her way out of sticky situations, I never grew that attached to her as a character. The same can be said for the supporting cast. I don’t think it was to the point where it hampered my enjoyment of the story, but without a strong connection to the characters I doubt I’d ever give this one a reread.
I’d recommend The Bullet-Catcher’s Daughter for anyone looking for a fun, fast paced steampunk story with a very canny female lead.
Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.